This is an extremely well-researched book. The author clearly knows her Mozart. I found it was better to dip in and out of this book, as the level of detail is quite overwhelming at times, but it is very informative.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

"The Real Mozart" paints a picture of Mozart as a rock star of his time and of all time. The manuscript included excerpts from letters and documents produced by people of importance in the life of the composer and musician. This book seems at times to resemble a high school paper about Mozart, and at other times a well-researched document. I found it difficult to follow when the subject matter skipped from the past times of Mozart to commentary about his works by contemporary musicians. There were also many names to keep straight and some repetition of topics. The book includes a bibliography, end notes, and an index.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

“The original Pop Idol,” Mozart is still relevant today. Arguably, he is one of the most well-known composers, and the author delves into his life from his birth to the aftermath of his death. This work is very well researched and includes excerpts from his own letters, as well as how his contemporaries saw him in their own words. Some parts have maybe too many names and dates to remember, but it’s mostly written in an approachable style that summarizes a short but fruitful life into a book. Grohmann proves how some of the myths, probably perpetuated by movies like Amadeus, are not accurate, and gives an account of the person behind the legend, placing him in a historical and political context. Readers who know nothing about him, as well as those who are familiar with his story will both enjoy this.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Pen & Sword History!

I came to this book as a reader with a reasonable pre-knowledge of Mozart, having studied music and musicology at university.

I do have some issues with this book. Some, admittedly, are only a matter of conflicting opinion. Judith Grohmann very much paints Mozart as a great innovator of musical form and style, but I am not convinced that this does represent his place in musical history. I would argue that the Classical style peaked with Mozart, leaving Beethoven to act as the visionary. There are also some pure inaccuracies to be found in the text. The author writes about the possibilities offered to Mozart by the new valved French horn. I am sure those possibilities would have been numerous, but the earliest valved horn wasn’t developed within Mozart’s lifetime. All of his horn parts were written for natural horn, played with hand horn technique. Grohmann’s writing style was also problematic for me, veering as it does from a naïve style that wouldn’t be out of place within a children’s book right through to the academic.

Despite my misgivings, there is also much to praise about this book. The author draws heavily on Mozart’s surviving correspondence to his father, wife and others, which I found fascinating to read. The book is generally well-researched.

There is much to read of interest here. Recommended for those who wish to learn more about the life of this captivating composer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword History for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t know much about Mozart so found this very insightful…,,, In his short life, Mozart anticipated almost everything that makes a star today: international tours, hysterical fans, success, big hits, sex and addiction. He wrote obsessively and composed more than 600 different operas, sonatas, masses, concerts and symphonies. As far as we know today, Mozart's oeuvre contains around 1,060 titles. Knighted by the Pope aged just 14 (the greatest award for any artist at the time), today he might have been showered with Grammys and platinum discs in recognition of his status as the original 'King of Pop'.

A terrific account which gives incredible detail on all aspects of Mozart’s life - his career, his relationships, his personality. Using Mozart’s own correspondence as source material, the author opens up the composer’s life to the reader. Long held rumours are analysed and addressed and all is put in the context of the time in which he loved, which is important when seeking to understand such things as burial practices which may seem odd to the modern reader. It is an excellent account and will be of interest to anyone interested in the history of classical music, not just fans of Mozart.

Here's your backstage pass to all things Mozart. Actually, it's better than a backstage pass. It allows you to be a fly on the wall during his early years. You meet his family, including his also amazingly musically talented sister. You get to tag along as his father directs his initial climb to fame and fortune. You even get to read his sister's musings on him, not to mention look over his shoulder as he writes not another symphony but a remarkably personal, heart-felt letter to his distant wife. In other words, you are there.

Based on the premise that Mozart was "The Original King of Pop", this book does an excellent job giving us a look at not only Mozart's family but the times. In this day and age, his father would probably be seen as the ultimate "stage father", which will make you ponder both the joys and pressures on the boy -- remember, he learned to play at age four -- as his father markets his remarkable talents. Note, his sister was certainly a musical prodigy, too, but in that era, sigh, much as it remains today, a woman found it difficult to make a name for herself. You'll probably cringe at some of the behaviors tolerated from boy Mozart, while pondering what was really going on in his mind.

While most of the details of Mozart's musical life and career are detailed here, this book made him human to my eyes. I felt hope, sorrow, and puzzlement at times, constantly having to remind myself that life was different, very different during his relatively short life. Born in 1756, a favorite in royal courts, his life was certainly exciting, but this book reveals the human behind the name. I liked Leonard Bernstein's take on him: "Mozart combines serenity, melancholy and tragic intensity..."

Thank you #NetGalley and #Pen&Sword - #Pen&SwordHistory for giving me this backstage pass into Mozart's life. I tune into the classical station on my car's radio regularly but will never hear his music quite the same. Yep, he classifies as a rock/pop star in my book.